United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
The USARIEM logo
Active	1961–present
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Type	Medical R&D Command
Role	Military medical research and development
Garrison/HQ	U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center, Natick, Massachusetts, USA

Military unit

The U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, Massachusetts, USA.

The U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) is the U.S Army’s main institution and facility for military environmental medicine and exercise physiology research. It is located at Natick, Massachusetts, within the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center (SSC) installation, but is a subordinate lab of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), headquartered at Fort Detrick, Maryland, USA.

Mission

USARIEM’s Mission Statement mandates that the Institute:

Provide solutions to enhance Warfighter health and performance through medical research.

The Institute has four divisions, each relating to military human performance as it relates to the environment — Biophysical and Biomedical Modeling, Military Nutrition, Military Performance, and Thermal and Mountain Medicine. Research in the divisions focuses on three elements: the servicemember (acclimation; body size; gender; race; age; health; hydration; nutrition; fitness; and sleep status), the environment (temperature; wind; humidity; and altitude), and the mission (work — intensity, duration, and type; clothing and equipment; and medications).

Research on the effect of environmental pollutants on military personnel is not part of USARIEM's mission, but is within the purview of the U.S. Army Center for Environmental Health Research at Fort Detrick, Maryland.

History

USARIEM traces its institutional lineage back to 1927 and the Harvard Fatigue Laboratory. That facility fostered two institutions that ultimately merged. The first was the Climatic Research Laboratory in Lawrence, MA (1943–54), which relocated to Natick in 1954 under the new name of the Environmental Protection Research Division (EPRD) of the U.S. Army’s Quartermaster Research and Engineering Command. The second was the Armored Medical Research Laboratory (AMRL) at Fort Knox, KY (1942–61) elements of which joined with the EPRD in 1961 to constitute the present USARIEM facility and organization.

Products and capabilities

USARIEM’s basic and applied research capabilities are focused upon biomedical evaluations, health hazard assessments, countermeasures development and a rapid response to a diverse range of environmental threats and problems. Products include individual soldier equipment and rations; guidelines pertaining to training policy and preventive medicine; and performance monitoring strategies and predictive algorithms.

Research Divisions

Research divisions within USARIEM consist of Biophysics and Biomedical Modeling (which develops wearable biosensors and biomedical models to simulate effects of heat, cold, high altitude, hydration, nutritional status and clothing systems and equipment)[^[1]^[2]^[3]], Military Performance (which researches performance enhancements [physical, cognitive, behavioral, psychomotor] in military occupational tasks),^[4]^[5]^[6] Military Nutrition (which researches nutritional issues, including new rations, affecting service members),^[7]^[8]^[9] and Thermal and Mountain Medicine (which researches physical and cognitive work capabilities and medical problems associated with military operations at high terrestrial altitude or temperature extremes).^[10]^[11]^[12]

Facilities

USARIEM maintains several unique or highly specialized facilities:

Hypobaric Chamber Facility or HCF (altitude chambers)
- Two Class D chambers (man-rated) rarefied air atmosphere, non-oxygen enriched
  - Large Study Chamber: internal volume of 2000 cu. ft. (floor area 200 sq. ft.)
  - Small Study Chamber: internal volume of 1100 cu. ft. (floor area 108 sq. ft.)
- Environmentally controlled (altitude, temperature, humidity) & connected by an airlock
  - Simulates altitudes of 800-225 Torr (sea level to 9000 m)
  - Temperatures from -32 °C to 43 °C
  - Relative humidity (Rh) between 20-80% (dew point dependent)
- 23,656 simulated altitude exposures of human volunteers over 33 years of studies^[13]
13 Environmental Chambers
- Temperatures from -10 °C to 50 °C
5 Biophysical Evaluation Chambers
- Temperatures from -10 °C to 50 °C
Biomechanics Laboratory
Water Immersion Laboratory^[14]
- Temperatures from 5 °C to 45 °C
Human Exercise Physiology Laboratory
Human/Animal Physiology Laboratory
Psychology Laboratory
Electron Microscopy Laboratory
Animal Housing and Care Facility
- Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC) Accredited
Doriot Climatic Chamber Complex
- Temperatures from -57 °C to 74 °C
Laser and Flow Cytometry

Off site:

United States Army Pike’s Peak Research Laboratory
- Located in Colorado at 4,300 m

List of USARIEM commanders

Number	Tenure	Commander
1	1961–1962	CPT Robert J. T. Joy, MD
2	1962–1965	LTC William H. Hall, MD
3	1965–1971	COL James E. Hansen, MD
4	1971–1976	COL LeeRoy G. Jones, MD
5	1976–1980	COL Harry G. Dangerfield, MD
6	1980–1982	COL Eliot J. Pearlman, MD
7	1982–1984	COL Ernest M. Irons Jr., MD
8	1984–1986	COL Brendon E. Joyce, MD
9	1986–1989	COL David D. Schnakenberg, PhD
10	1989–1990	COL Joseph C. Denniston, DVM
11	1990–1994	COL Gerald P. Krueger, PhD
12	1994–1997	COL Joel T. Hiatt, MS
13	1997–2000	COL David M. Penetar, PhD
14	2000–2003	COL John P. Obusek, PT, PhD
15	2003–2006	COL Karl E. Friedl, PhD
16	2006-2008	COL Beau J. Freund, PhD
17	2008-2010	COL Kevin Keenan, M.D., M.P.H.
18	2010-2012	COL Gaston P. Bathalon, RD, PhD
19	2012–2014	COL Deborah L. Whitmer, D.V.M.
20	2014-2016	COL Thomas G. Eccles III, M.D.
21	2016–2018	COL Raymond Phua, tDPT
22	2018–2020	COL Sean S. O'Neil, PhD
23	2020-2022	COL Troy Morton, D.P.M.
24	2022-present	COL Michael I. Cohen, DO

References

^ Potter; et al. (2017). "Mathematical prediction of core body temperature from environment, activity, and clothing: The heat strain decision aid (HSDA)". Journal of Thermal Biology. 64 (64): 78–85. doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2017.01.003. PMID 28166950.
^ Gonzalez; et al. (1997). "Heat strain models applicable for protective clothing systems: comparison of core temperature response". Journal of Applied Physiology. 83 (3): 1017–1032. doi:10.1152/jappl.1997.83.3.1017. PMID 9292490. S2CID 23305552.
^ Buller; et al. (2015). "Real-time core body temperature estimation from heart rate for first responders wearing different levels of personal protective equipment". Ergonomics. 58 (11): 1830–1841. doi:10.1080/00140139.2015.1036792. PMID 25967760. S2CID 22734718.
^ Seay; et al. (2014). "Lower extremity biomechanical changes associated with symmetrical torso loading during simulated marching". Military Medicine. 179 (1): 85–91. doi:10.7205/milmed-d-13-00090. PMID 24402991.
^ Proctor; et al. (2015). "Neurocognitive Performance and Prior Injury Among US Department of Defense Military Personnel". Military Medicine. 180 (6): 660–669. doi:10.7205/milmed-d-14-00298. PMID 26032381.
^ Heaton; et al. (2014). "Attention and visual tracking degradation during acute sleep deprivation in a military sample". Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine. 85 (5): 497–503. doi:10.3357/asem.3882.2014. PMID 24834562. S2CID 25698302.
^ McClung; et al. (2006). "Prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia among three populations of female military personnel in the US Army". Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 25 (1): 64–69. doi:10.1080/07315724.2006.10719516. PMID 16522934. S2CID 36905133.
^ Pasiakos; et al. (2015). "The effects of protein supplements on muscle mass, strength, and aerobic and anaerobic power in healthy adults: a systematic review". Sports Medicine. 45 (1): 111–131. doi:10.1007/s40279-014-0242-2. PMID 25169440. S2CID 23197226.
^ Lieberman; et al. (2002). "Effects of caffeine, sleep loss, and stress on cognitive performance and mood during US Navy SEAL training". Psychopharmacology. 164 (3): 250–261. doi:10.1007/s00213-002-1217-9. PMID 12424548. S2CID 15325147.
^ Castellani; et al. (2001). "Thermoregulation during cold exposure after several days of exhaustive exercise". Journal of Applied Physiology. 90 (3): 939–946. doi:10.1152/jappl.2001.90.3.939. PMID 11181604. S2CID 16071697.
^ Cadarette; et al. (2006). "Intermittent microclimate cooling during exercise-heat stress in US army chemical protective clothing". Ergonomics. 49 (2): 209–219. doi:10.1080/00140130500436106. PMID 16484146. S2CID 45560619.
^ Sawka; et al. (2005). "Human water needs". Nutrition Reviews. 63 (suppl 1): S30-9. doi:10.1111/j.1753-4887.2005.tb00152.x. PMID 16028570. S2CID 24583130.
^ DeGroot DW, Devine JA, Fulco CS (September 2003). "Incidence of adverse reactions from 23,000 exposures to simulated terrestrial altitudes up to 8900 m". Aviat Space Environ Med. 74 (9): 994–7. PMID 14503681. Retrieved 2008-06-05.
^ Forte, V (2003). "Water Immersion and Re-Warming Facility of the Thermal and Mountain Medicine Division". US Army Research Inst. Of Environmental Medicine Thermal and Mountain Medicine Division Technical Report (USARIEM–TN03–04). Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved 2008-09-30.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

This article contains information that originally came from US Government publications and websites and is in the public domain.

External links

Official website

United States Army Medical Command

Category:United States Army

Leadership

Army Medical Department

Officers	Medical Corps Nurse Corps Dental Corps Veterinary Corps Medical Service Corps Medical Specialist Corps
Enlisted	Enlisted medical soldiers

Major Subordinate Commands

Regional commands	North Atlantic RMC Southeast RMC Great Plains RMC Western RMC Europe RMC Pacific RMC
Others	AMEDD Center & School U.S. Army Dental Cmd U.S. Army Medical Research & Materiel Cmd U.S. Army Public Health Cmd U.S. Army Warrior Transition Cmd

Installations

Fort Sam Houston
Fort Detrick (with Forest Glen Annex)

Medical Centers
(MEDCENs)

Stateside	Augusta MMC Brooke AMC Tripler AMC Eisenhower AMC Madigan AMC Womack AMC Beaumont AMC Darnall AMC
Overseas	Landstuhl AMC

Medical Department Activities
(MEDDACs)

Hospitals	Bassett ACH Jones ACH Blanchfield ACH Allgood ACH Evans ACH Wood ACH Ireland ACH Irwin ACH Keller ACH Martin ACH McDonald ACH Moncrief ACH Reynolds ACH Weed ACH Winn ACH
Clinics	Bliss AHC Barquist AHC Bavaria MEDDAC DiLorenzo TRICARE HC Dunham AHC Fairfax FHC Fox AHC Guthrie MEDDAC Heidelberg MEDDAC Kimbrough ACC Kenner AHC Kirk AHC Lyster AHC Munson AHC Rader AHC Woodbridge AHC Camp Zama

Field medical units

Medical Commands	AR-MEDCOM 807th MCDS 3rd MCDS
Medical Groups	55th Med Gp 67th Med Gp
Medical Brigades	1st Med BDE 2nd Med BDE 5th Med BDE 8th Med BDE 30th Med BDE 32nd Med BDE 44th Med BDE 62nd Med BDE 65th Med BDE 176th Med BDE 139th Med BDE 307th Med BDE 330th Med BDE 332nd Med BDE 338th Med BDE 804th Med BDE
Combat Support Hospitals and Field Hospitals	9th Hosp Ctr 10th Field Hospital (United States) 14th CSH 28th CSH 31th CSH 47th CSH 48th CSH 75th CSH 115th Field Hospital 121st CSH 212th CSH 228th CSH 256th CSH 325th CSH 328th CSH 345th CSH 349th CSH 352d CSH 396th CSH 399th CSH 405th CSH 452th CSH 801th CSH 865th CSH
Forward Surgical Teams	1st FST 2nd FST 8th FST 67th FST 102nd FST 126th FST 135th FST 160th FST 240th FST 250th FST 274th FST (ABN) 402nd FST 541th FST (ABN) 555th FST 624th FST 628th FST 629th FST 691st FST 745th FST 758th FST 759th FST (ABN) 772nd FST 848th FST 874th FST 909th FST 911th FST 912th FST 915th FST 932nd FST 933rd FST 934th FST 936th FST 945th FST 946th FST 947th FST 948th FST 1980th FST 1982nd FST

Education

Centers, schools, etc	AMEDD Center & School U.S. Army School of Aviation Medicine Borden Institute
Museums	National Museum of Health and Medicine AMEDD Museum
Courses	Captains Career Course Walter Reed Tropical Medicine Course
Products	Textbook of Military Medicine War Surgery in Afghanistan and Iraq

Research Institutes & Centers

Stateside	Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD) U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research (ISR) U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) U.S. Army Center for Environmental Health Research
Overseas	Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Science (AFRIMS) United States Army Medical Research Unit- Europe (USAMRU-E) U.S. Army Medical Research Unit-Kenya (USAMRU-K) Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP)